Sunday, May 31, 2015

Sunday Sew-Day: Mother Knows Best

The bond between mother and child is a unique one, isn't it? She carried you for nine months. She brought you into this world (and can take you out of it, lest you forget). She watched you grow and learn. She celebrated your highs and consoled you in your lows. She sent you off on your own with a knot in her stomach and a tissue in her hand. She welcomed you home for every holiday with a hug that lasted what would be an inappropriate amount of time were it anyone else. She mailed you polka dots clothes to refashion because she knows you've got a thing for polka dots. Wait, your mom didn't mail you polka dots clothes to refashion? Oh. Hmm... Well, maybe that's just my mom.

Anywho, my mom recently sent me a too-large hot pink polka dot dress someone else had given her and a black and white polka dot tank top she hadn't worn in years.

Pink Polka Dot Dress - BeforeBlack & White & Lace Tank - Before

I knew exactly what I would do with the dress as I have done it a few times before. First, I cut out the mid-section.

Pink Polka Dot Dress - In Progress

In order to take in the bodice, I had to pick out the stitches where the facing was tacked down, then fold it upward to take in the side seams.

Pink Polka Dot Dress - In Progress Pink Polka Dot Dress - In Progress

Then I tacked the facing back down again.

Pink Polka Dot Dress - In Progress

Next, I reattached the skirt to the bodice, adding four pleats to soak up the extra fabric. Then I top-stitched that seam for a nice, clean finish.

Pink Polka Dot Dress - In ProgressPink Polka Dot Dress - In Progress

Since the lowest button was now much higher, high enough to be indecent in fact, I salvaged the buttons from the removed mid-section and added them at the bottom of the skirt. I simply sewed them on through both layers, rather than going to the trouble of creating buttonholes. There's no need for the front to be un-button-able this far down.

Pink Polka Dot Dress - In Progress

And behold, my new favorite dress!

Pink Polka Dot Dress - AfterPink Polka Dot Dress - After
Pink Polka Dot Dress - After
Pink Polka Dot Dress - AfterPink Polka Dot Dress - After


Pink Polka Dot Dress Before & After


Then it was time to tackle the black and white tank top. Unfortunately, the fabric was a little faded on one shoulder, and there was a small hole there as well. Also it was a little snug on The Girls (though Rosy managed to squeeze into it).

Black & White & Lace Tank - Before

While brainstorming what to do, I asked myself what sort of fabric would go well with polka dots? If you said "polka dots", you're right! A couple weeks ago, when my Thrift Style Thursday pals and I each had a friend or family member style our outfits for that week's challenge, it occurred to me that I have a lot of things in my closet that I never wear. In fact, I have a lot of refashioned things in my closet that I never wear. This polka dot lace tank top is one of them. I wore it once for photos when I first refashioned it, and then I wore it a second time for the recent TST challenge. In addition to being a smidge too large, I have also come to realize that I absolutely will not layer in the summer. I want to wear as little as possible when it's hot as hell out there. Yep, I can't even stand to wear a little lace tank over a camisole. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but just wasn't practical. So I decided to re-refashion it! (And I plan to go through my closet again and do the same with other not-so-successful refashions.)

Black & White & Lace Tank - Before

Since the damage to the black and white top was primarily on the front side, and since there was no bust shaping to distinguish back from front, I decided to use the back of this tank as the front of my new shirt. So I cut the side seams and shoulders of both tank tops, leaving the serged seam on the lace for stability and leaving about 1/2 inch of fabric on the black and white top to hide my raw edges later.

Black & White & Lace Tank - In Progress

Next I sewed the new side and shoulder seams. Then I folded under the extra fabric and top-stitched for a finished appearance.

Black & White & Lace Tank - In ProgressBlack & White & Lace Tank - In Progress

Finally, since I had used the back of the black and white top as the new front, I snipped out the old tag. It was faded to the point of illegibility anyway.

Black & White & Lace Tank - In Progress

And now I've got a trendy solid-front-lace-back tank top with polka dots all over!

Black & White & Lace Tank - AfterBlack & White & Lace Tank - After
Black & White & Lace Tank - AfterBlack & White & Lace Tank - AfterBlack & White & Lace Tank - AfterBlack & White & Lace Tank - After


Black & White & Lace Tank - After

12 comments:

  1. Pretty! Such cool transformations. And I love your tattoos!
    Cheers, Anni

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  2. Great job, Carissa! The pink dress turned out perfect. And the tank top is awesome! I would never have thought to do that! And I didn't notice the faded shoulder with a hole. Love them both!

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    1. The fading and hole weren't too bad really, just the reason I used the back as the new front. The main problem was definitely the size. Thanks again! I love my new dress and top!

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  3. Cute, Cute, Cute ! Have those designers, as yet, caught on to watching your blog and seeing how to do it better? The shell is darling and you always finish out with that little extra - the side split - giving the top a final tweak in style. I think that it could be possibly be turned around using a complimentary tank underneath the lace top for another version. What is next?

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    1. The side split was only sort of intentional, in that I knew it would happen ahead of time since the lace top was a little longer. I was just hoping it would look okay in the end, and I think it totally does! There was a slight difference between the front and back of the original lace top - a little more boob space in the front - but the fabric is a bit stretchy, so yes, I could probably wear my new tank backwards with a colorful cami underneath. Great idea!

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  4. Oh wow! That pink is a knockout colour on you! Love what you did with the dress. Also, it was interesting to find that you have given up on layers. I always see layers and think they look cute, but they are not for me because I mind the heat so much. And we don't even have the temperatures you have.

    Your mama knows you well.

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    1. Don't get me wrong - I love to layer in the fall and winter. But there are plenty of ways to style outfits in the summer with things like jewelry and belts without resorting to adding another layer of fabric unnecessarily.

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  5. That is a really creative top. I love it! You will have a very interesting suntan on your back -- your own personal polka dots. So funny the label is "Ardmore." We are going there tomorrow.

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    1. I had the same thought - polka dots sunburned onto my back! I try not to spend that much time in the direct sun though, since I do burn so easily. I thought of you when I saw that tag. Have fun in Ardmore!

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